Violation #1 cost the station $10K, and each of the other three carried a penalty, in this instance, of $3K for a grand total of $19K.

The FCC noted a way that Great Plains can avoid the fine – if it allows the station’s license to be reduced from Class A status to a standard LPTV license, the station would no longer be “apparently liable” for the $19K.

The station now has the opportunity to appeal the FCC’s finding, accept the downgrade to LPTV status or simply pay the fine.